Incidence of Postoperative Sore Throat and Associated Factors Among Pediatric Patients Undergoing Surgery Under General Anesthesia at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, a Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative sore throat is one of the common postoperative complications following general anesthesia. Postoperative sore throat causes decreased patient satisfaction, and it affects patients' well-being after surgery, thus identifying its incidence and predictors helps to distinguish the preventable causes of postoperative sore throat. This study aimed to assess the incidence and associated factors of postoperative sore throat among pediatric patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia at Hawassa university comprehensive specialized hospital.

METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted among children in the age range 6-16 years old who underwent emergency and elective surgical procedures under general anesthesia. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 26 software packages. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the independent predictors. The presence and severity of postoperative sore throat were assessed by using a four-point categorical pain scale at the 2nd, 6th, 12th, and 24th-hour postoperative time.

RESULTS: A total of 102 children were recruited in this study, from which 27 children (26.5%) complained of sore throat postoperatively. This study found that endotracheal intubation (P value: 0.030; AOR: 3.155; 95% CI [1.114-8.933]) and several attempts greater than one (P value: 0.027 and AOR: 4.890; 95% CI: [1.203-19.883]) had statistically significant association with a postoperative sore throat.

CONCLUSION: The overall incidence of postoperative sore throat was 26.5%. Endotracheal intubation and the number of attempts greater than one were independent factors that were significantly associated with the occurrence of postoperative sore throat in this study.